US police find toddler's body dumped in apartment rubbish bin

Police in the US state of Wyoming continue to investigate the death of a two-year-old boy whose body was found in a dumpster at an apartment complex.

Athian Rivera was found several hours after he was reported missing in Cheyenne around 1pm on Friday.

Police said yesterday they suspected foul play but haven't said how the boy died.

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Notes of condolence and dozens of stuffed animals were attached to a chain-link fence partially surrounding a dumpster at the apartment complex yesterday.

A fierce wind blew and few people were out in the area.

The Facebook account of Cheyenne resident Kassy Orona led with "RIP my perfect innocent son, Athian Emmanuel Rivera" and included several posts of mourning.

"I don't know how I'll ever get over this ... you'll always be with me baby boy," one post by Ms Orona's account read on Friday.

The post indicated Ms Orona had two other children but didn't explain or hint at how the toddler died or got in the dumpster.

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Ms Orona didn't return a Facebook message seeking comment and didn't have a listed phone number.

Police and firefighters conducted an extensive search on Friday after hearing of the missing toddler.

They used a reverse 911 call to tell people within a half-mile (1 kilometre) of the Lexington Hills apartment complex to be on the lookout for him.